LAS VEGAS – MAR. 4 - Filipino welterweight Mark Jason Melligen who has done everything expected of him with eight wins and only one split decision loss against some tough opponents in the US is set for bigger fights in the near future.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum was pleased with Melligen’s lopsided ten round decision over touted Mexican Gabriel “El Rey” Martinez and is expected to possibly get Melligen a shot at a regional NABF or NABO title in his next fight.

Adelaide Byrd and Richard Houck had the southpaw Melligen the winner 99-91 while the third judge Jerry Roth also scored it for the Filipino 98-92. It was Melligen’s eighth win against his sole loss to Mexican Michael Rosales on November 13, 209 on the night where his close friend Z “The Dream” Gorres collapsed in his corner after a rousing win over Luis Melendez and was rushed to hospital where he underwent emergency brain surgery.

Melligen was visibly upset and concerned and lost a close fight. Efforts to get Rosales to agree to a rematch failed and Top Rank matched Melligen against Marrinez (27-1-1, 14 KO’s) on Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire’s title fight against WBC/WBO champion Fernando “KO-Chulito” Montiel which Donaire won by a spectacular 2nd round knockout last February 19 in Las Vegas.

Both Roger Mayweather, the trainer and uncle of Floyd Mayweather Jr and former world junior lightweight champion Cornelius Boza Edwards both told the Inquirer they liked Melligen and were impressed by him. Melligen trains under longtime Cebu resident Tony Martin at the Mayweather Gym in Las Vegas. Boza Edwards added that Melligen who had previously sparred with Marcus Maidana and Devon Alexander was “a really nice kid.”

Martin himself said “I personally would like to see him given a chance for some form of local title. I think he deserves that or fight a known opponent or a rated opponent to show everybody that he’s capable of moving up to the next level.” However, Martin admitted that “everything relies heavily on what Top Rank will think.”

Martin said that based on the Martinez fight his performance is getting better and his opponent was no joke. He was tough. Mark hit him with some really big shots and he still kept coming. He wasn’t an easy opponent and the majority of fans said later it was a very good fight and they enjoyed it immensely. Even Bob Arum commented that it was an excellent fight.”

Martin said that Melligen is a work in progress and “still needs to throw a lot more combinations.” While conceding that he “made a few mistakes” the trainer singled out “the aggravating habit of pushing his trunks down and which he paid for in the eighth round when he got tagged with a right to the jaw” by Martinez.

Martin said that while Martinez caught Melligen with a couple of good right hands “it was the most amazing thing to me because it proved that Mark can take a punch and that is so important.”